dog nettle

noun

1

: hemp nettle

2

: an annual dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) having deep green or purplish leaves, a hairy calyx, and a ring of hairs inside the slender corolla tube

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!